Hove woman given suspended sentence after administering drugs to son

Pembe Mehmetaliogullari, of Lower Market Street, Hove, was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months at Brighton Crown Court in Edward Street, Brighton today.

The 48-year-old was convicted in May this year of administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy, to her son, Mustafa.

The jury had convicted her of administering an antidepressant called Citalopram, between September 1 and September 27, 2018, but had cleared her of attempted murder, which she denied.

The court heard that Mustafa, who lived with severe complex physical and mental disabilities, died at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in North Drive, Brighton, on September 30, 2018, having been admitted for treatment three days earlier.

Pembe Mehmetaliogullari

Police were informed and a post mortem and subsequent toxicology examination found the presence of non-prescribed medication in his system. The cause of death was not determined and could not be attributed to the drugs found in his system.

After the case, detective sergeant Barry Chandler from the East Sussex Safeguarding Unit said: “This is a tragic case and our thoughts remain with Mustafa’s family and friends at this difficult time.

“I’d like to thank the members of the jury who carefully considered the evidence put before them and I’d also like to thank the witnesses and the our investigative team who worked so hard on this complex and distressing case.”

Mustafa and his mother had been living at Eastview Terrace, Sedlescombe, East Sussex, prior to his admission to hospital.

During his life, Mustafa suffered from cerebral palsy, scoliosis and epilepsy, and could only communicate by blinking - when indicating "yes" to a question - and shaking his head for "no".

Mehmetaliogullari previously told the court her arranged marriage in the 90s to a local policeman in Northern Cyprus broke down after the couple found out she could not have children.

The court has heard that the baby the couple finally adopted had been found in a dustbin.

When the husband found out the baby was severely disabled at six months old, he issued an "ultimatum".

"He said it was 'baby or me'," she told the court.

The court heard that when the marriage broke down the defendant brought the boy back to Britain.